Gay San Diego Volume 10, Issue 9, April 26 - May 9

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Volume 10 Issue 9 April 26 - May 9, 2019

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INTERVIEW

Hillcrest shooter thought to be mentally incompetent

Heart and soul

Inspiration in world crisis

q DINING (www.canstockphoto.com)

By Neal Putnam

Duck into insideOUT

e

THEATER

San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus performs The Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love.” (Photo by Gary Payne)

San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates the music of Motown Albert H. Fulcher | Editor The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus (SDGMC) never ceases to amaze and engage its audience. With three sold-out shows of its “Motown: The Music + The

Fighting for the right to fly

CALENDAR

Legends,” the chorus delivered such strong performances, that they transcended time. Focusing on the relevance of a genre of music that helped bring the world together through music during the height of the civil

rights movement, the show’s message radiated the importance of this history, the struggles of the present and the hope of the future.

see Men’s Chorus, pg 3

Princess and Prince Royale 47th Imperial Court de San Diego elects final representatives Albert H. Fulcher | Editor

What’s happening in the gayborhood?

Index Opinion ................................... 6 Classifieds............................ 13 Calendar ............................... 14 Puzzle ................................... 14

Contact us Editorial/Letters 619-961-1960 albert@sdcnn.com

Advertising 619-961-1951 david@sdcnn.com

www.sdcnn.com San Diego Community News Network

On April 14, the Imperial Court de San Diego completed its 47th reign with the crowning of Princess Royale Rickie, Prince Royale Duncan and the appointment of the Court’s board at the 2019 Royale Gala & Investitures at Rich’s San Diego.

In true Court grandiose, the Royale Gala was full of phenomenal entertainment as the crowd waited for the crowning moment. Special guest included members of the Imperial Court of Long Beach, Imperial Court of LA and Hollywood, Orange

see Imperial Court, pg 3

(l to r) Imperial Court de San Diego Emperor Darnelle of Wakanda and Empress Gigi Masters look on as they complete the 47th reign of the Imperial Court with the crowning of Princess Royale Rickie and Prince Royale Duncan at Rich’s on April 14. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

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Criminal proceedings were suspended for a Hillcrest restaurant shooting suspect after his attorney said he doubted the man was mentally competent to understand court proceedings.

Stefano Markell Parker, 29, remains in jail while he undergoes mental competency tests by psychologists. They will write a report and send it to a judge for determination if he should be sent to a psychiatric facility to help him regain his mental competency.

Parker is charged with 11 counts of attempted murder — one count for each person who was inside the Asian Bistro restaurant on Feb. 12 at 7:40 p.m., when he is alleged to have fired 19 shots through the glass windows.

Miraculously, no was injured as everyone ducked down and remained on the floor in the restaurant at 414 University Ave., which is also known as the Golden Dragon with its iconic sign left intact.

Parker faced a preliminary hearing on April 12, but now faces a mental competency hearing on May 29 in San Diego Superior Court. If the judge finds he is mentally unable to understand the charges against him, he will be sent

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NEWS / ENTERTAINMENT

gay-sd.com FROM PAGE 1

IMPERIAL COURT County Imperial Court and other members of the International Imperial Court System.

Stepping down after 52 weeks of service Princess Royale Jessica D’Nalga and Prince Steven Blocker.

Both paid emotional tributes to their mothers who were in attendance. D’Nalga was recognized for representation of the Latino community and overcoming the cultural stigmas. Blocker, a strong advocate for sobriety was also recognized for his work during the year in supporting

(l to r) Princess Royale Jessica D’Nalga and Prince Royale Steven Blocker of the 46th Imperial Court de San Diego at the 2019 Royale Gala & Investitures (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

campaigns for those in recovery. The Imperial Court presented Stepping Stone of San Diego $1,500, the charity of Blocker’s choice.

Rickie Brown, a native

Louisianan, mother of three and grandmother of six has lived in San Diego for 18 years. She began her time with the Court as a volunteer for events and donating turkeys and hams for the past three years. She said she has been an advocate for affordable housing for many years and loves organizing the annual toy drive at her church.

Working in the community is an important part of her life.

“Currently I sit on the [San Diego] Democrats for Equality board, and the Build Better San Diego Coalition,” she said.

Brown is a past member of the City Heights, City Heights Redevelopment PAC, Citizen Review Board, City Heights Town Council, City Heights Area Planning Committee and

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

the Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association.

“I am very passionate about enhancing and developing programs for our LGBTQ seniors,” Brown added. “I will also be focusing on fundraising and adding to the Imperial Court de San Diego donor base.”

D’Nalga said she believes the best advice to give to the incoming Royales would be to stay true to themselves.

“Enjoy the year and always remember your community comes first over traveling,” D’Nalga said. “Where work always comes first ... we must also make time for our duties.

Question things you are unsure of. Carry yourself with pride, love and always be regal and make those connections

across the realms. Royales are a team, a couple and it’s best when you are friends.

Steven and I were all of those and that contributed to having such a successful reign.

The most important things between the Royales and the monarchs is communication, respect and support. But most importantly, do not become anyone’s puppet.”

Blocker said he hopes the new Royale’s year is filled with memories that they will cherish and hold dear.

“Your reign will take work, but always remember the ultimate goal is to represent your title with pride and above all else, have fun!” Blocker said.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

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San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus closes out first of three sold-out performances of “Motown: The Music + The Legends” at the Balboa Theatre on April 13.

(Photo by Nick Stone)

FROM PAGE 1

MEN’S CHORUS Generations of people in the audience could not stop themselves from singing along with Motown classics and it took pure willpower not to start dancing in the aisles as the SDGMC provided one rock-solid performance after another. With the nature of the music and the talent of the chorus and its team, this concert showed that there are no limits to what the chorus can produce.

Exhilaration in the room escalated song after song, leaving the theater begging for more.

For RC Haus (SDGMC’s artistic director), this was a personal favorite in artistic direction. Song choices and arrangements, and the juxtaposition of song, dance, testimonials and visuals rose in blissful sound well above the rafters of Balboa Theatre.

From untainted ecstasy to exceedingly empowered moments in time, elements solidified the power that music possesses, regardless of genre and time.

Adding iconic songs of Aretha Franklin and Gloria Gaynor with Motown greats propelled listeners into resounding euphoria. ¡Bravissimo!

With such an array to choose from, there were many pivotal sparks that were charged with emotion and devotion from the chorus to the audience. To start with, a tribute to Franklin by covering her 1972 recording of “Amazing Grace” (which the legendary singer famously performed at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles), intertwined with the chorus backup

and the astonishing vocals of Arnessa Rickett-Jones, was a masterful and touching choice.

Along with the chorus, RickettJones also embodied the heart and soul of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” the epitomic gay anthem.

The Commodores’ “Three Times a Lady” was not only orchestrated with perfection, but along with the tributes to women past and present was especially emotionally charged.

Starting off the first verse, Marc Owen’s tone was beautifully smooth like old-style churned butter. And that comparison, from me, is the highest of accolades.

The chorus and the arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” was breathtakingly beautiful with its sharp harmonies was poetry in song. As a Georgia boy, (yes, that was me hollering), you had me at “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

Janice Edwards and the chorus brought me to tears with that rendition of the Gladys Knight & The Pips hit. But they were tears of joy.

There was nothing dissatisfying in this season concert.

From beginning to end, it was faultless. Expectations for each of SDGMC’s shows are always high — but every single time, they deliver. And this concert in particular was a brilliant ray of sunshine in an oft-dark world. Keeping shining your light, and we’ll keep listening.

SDGMC has upcoming auditions May 4-13 for its next for its next concert, covering Cher’s decades of music. For more information visit sdgmc.org.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

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COMMUNITY VOICES

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

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gay-sd.com

Speaking of the Archives Out of the Archives

By Lambda Archives staff

T

here is a lot to say about our history, and we are happy to say it! In addition to the many talks we give on a regular basis, this summer at Pride, we are planning a special, expanded booth to have people give talks about aspects of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ history: the early days of Pride, of The Center, early protest movements, landmark civil rights cases and more.

The mission statement of Lambda Archives is to “collect, preserve and teach the LGBTQ+ history of San Diego and Imperial counties and Northern Baja California, Mexico.” We take the third prong, the teaching part, as seriously as the first two. This teaching includes inviting school groups and others to tour the Archives, conducting walking tours of Hillcrest, and putting on our Out at the Archives series.

In the last few months, requests for us to speak about our history have increased dramatically due

At the Congress of History event, the Archives was given the Mary Ward Memorial Award for Historic Archives & Records Management in recognition of its work.

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to the awareness of the Archives generated by the large exhibit at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. (The exhibit, “LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles and Triumphs,” will be up through January 2020.)

Among the talks we have given and which we’d be happy to give to your organization or school are: “ The Origins of Lambda Archives of San Diego,” presentation was given last month at the Congress of History, which covers the birth of what was then called the Lesbian and Gay Archives and then was the Lesbian and Gay Historical Society before becoming Lambda Archives. When he was dying of AIDS, Robert “Jess” Jessop, who was one of the founders of The Center, recruited some friends to help preserve all of the papers, photos and artifacts he collected as part of the important nascent moments of LGBT history in San Diego.

At the Congress of History event, the Archives was also given the Mary Ward Memorial Award for Historic Archives & Records Management in recognition of its work.

“Creating the San Diego History Center Exhibit” is a talk that has been given to the Rediscover San Diego group — people who want to learn more about their city — and at the Youth Empowerment Synergy Conference at San Diego State University. This talk features photos of the exhibit area of the SDHC through the various stages of taking down the previous exhibit celebrating the Jewish community, through the building of the LGBTQ exhibit, as well as photos of the artifacts being assembled, tagged and inventoried for display. It is a behind-thescenes look at the creation of this large and important celebration of the community.

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Walter G. Myers, Lambda Archives manager In 2018, San Diego Library’s One Book project featured “ The March” by Congressman John Lewis and a few branches of the library requested a presentation from the Archives on the connection between the national African American civil rights movement, and particularly the contributions of gay, African American civil rights leader Bayard Rustin to the protests and battles for LGBTQ civil rights in San Diego.

Now, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, that presentation has been revised to draw a connection between that pivotal moment in history and how it helped inspire local efforts to change the landscape for the queer community. An abbreviated version of this talk will be among those given at our Pride booth.

A presentation about what the Lambda Archives does to bring the archives out of the boxes and to the people will be given at the Society of California Archivists (SCA) convention in Long Beach at the end of April. The SCA leadership

had heard about the work Lambda Archives was doing with its walking tours, Out at the Archives, exhibits and even this monthly column in Gay San Diego to share the history with people rather than waiting for them to come into the Archives to dig into boxes to learn about our past.

Being a small nonprofit with limited staff time and resources, we request a speakers fee for these presentations, but we will never refuse a request based on inability to pay — we are eager to share our history with the world!

For more information, contact the archives: info@ LambdaArchives.org or 619-260-1522.

—Lambda Archives, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to collecting, preserving and teaching the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in San Diego and the Northern Baja California region, is located at 4545 Park Blvd., in University Heights. To learn more, stop in or visit their website at lambdaarchives.org.t

INTERVIEW

gay-sd.com

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

Melissa Etheridge has your medicine

5

Headlining San Diego Pride this year, legendary LGBTQ icon talks inspiration in world crises

By Chris Azzopardi Ain’t it heavy? Ain’t the night heavy? The opioid crisis, national anxiety, school shootings. Our political zoo. The general feeling that the world is always, probably ending.

Because she’s a human being even though she’s Melissa Etheridge, this all weighed considerably on the 57-year-old LGBTQ icon when she went into the studio to confront the disheartening present-day with a state of mind she calls “balanced,” resulting in “The Medicine Show,” her first album in three years.

There were deep self-reflective dives into her past, reframing older experiences with a newer, richer perspective, and there was last year’s tragic Parkland shooting, which happened while she was in the recording studio. To find these songs, wherever Melissa Etheridge finds them (not even Melissa Etheridge knows), she blazed cannabis because, she says, why the hell wouldn’t she? But the real roots of “The Medicine Show” grow from a place of renewal, reconciliation, reckoning, compassion and healing.

From a stop in March in Copenhagen while on her “Yes I Am 25th Anniversary Tour,” Etheridge spoke about seeking answers in inner space, the statement she knew she was making with Amy Grant, and being proud of the fact that she led the way for a song called “Pussy Is God.” When we last spoke, you were in the early stages of writing ‘The Medicine Show.’ You told me then you didn’t want to create a protest album, that it was going to put a face on some serious issues, which it does. Why take that approach with these topics?

Because — oh gosh — it goes to your soul more than just preaching something, saying, “We should do this.”

People are gonna turn off the minute they hear a “should,” you know? And so making it — that’s art. That’s “my” art. You make it personal, and then that’s how you change hearts

Melissa Etheridge brings “The Medicine Show,” her first album in three years (Photo by Lauren Dukoff)

and minds, I think.

As a music consumer, what have you been connecting with in terms of songs that speak to our current times?

Well, I do listen to Kendrick Lamar. I listen to a lot of hip-hop.

Some of those hip-hop sounds have even snuck into your own music over the years.

I’m not very good at making it, but I love to listen to it.

With some help, I can make it! But even “Medicine Show,” the song, is kind of a rap. So I listen to (hip-hop). Boy, social media now just really connects you up with other artists, and I’ve been watching the paths of other folks. And even pop artists like Kesha, the choices she made, the things that affect people and then the art that they make from it. I wouldn’t say I was listening to

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anybody else and them speaking about their times (while making this album). I listen to their “experiences” of the time.

By examining the world right now through your own personal lens, did ‘The Medicine Show’ bring you closer to any kind of truths about the world and the subjects that you wrote about?

I’m pretty solid about what truth is and how the way that I hold my own experience and the way that I define my experience and perceive it is the most important thing. So, taking care of how I receive things is one of the reasons it’s hard for me to condemn anyone else. It makes more sense to me to experience and speak of finding a way to stay out of being a victim and stay out of being a judge. You gotta ride right in the middle. And that’s balance.

I like the word balance, because we’re constantly given opportunities to define ourselves — and we can define ourselves as a victim of something or we can judge others, or we can understand that I make my own life, I make my own choices, and how I’m going to be affected by life. So you can’t really blame anybody else or become a victim. But that’s a whole other conversation. That’s, like, an hour-long conversation.

I recall reading that after your battle with breast cancer, you went on an

identity and self-love journey. And many of these songs look inside yourself as well as outside. Which songs for you fit into that journey that you’ve been on since beating breast cancer?

My first instinct is to say all of them, even “The Last Hello,” which is just an observation. I was in the studio when the Parkland shooting happened, and their choices — the way that they chose to not be a victim and to come out and say “we need change” — affected me deeply in seeing, “Ah, yes, I’m finally seeing outside of myself,” and what I believed in is how we can move forward and create change. So all of the songs, even the subjects that might seem outside of myself, all come from this journey of mine.

How did your song for Parkland end up being a song about the survivors and not the victims?

When I heard the surviving students, and when I saw Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg get up and speak from their hearts the next day, it was so powerful. I remember reading where there are over 150,000 survivors of school shootings — survivors! — and I thought, “Oh gosh, that’s

see Interview, pg 9

6

OPINION

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

Guest Editorial

Not all LGBTs are affluent and without credit problems

By Vic Gerami The myth that all LGBTQ people are affluent and devoid of financial challenges is just that — a myth.

Based on an LGBTQ finances survey conducted by Experian in May 2018, things aren’t exactly rainbows and roses when it comes to credit and finances in the queer community.

In fact, our community puts more emphasis on discretionary spending versus savings than the general population. We are also more likely to report bad spending habits. Those statistics are bad news for many individual LGBTQ folks ... especially for those individuals' credit reports and credit scores.

Sixty-two percent of the LGBTQ community has experienced financial challenges based on sexual orientation.

Members of our community are also less likely to seek out professional financial planning and personal credit management advice.

I spoke with credit and financial expert Alex Miller, to breakdown the basics facts about credit and advice on credit repair.

Miller got his start in Fortune 500 companies, such as First Data Merchant Services and American Express. Inspired by AmEx’s customers’ high credit scores, he started studying federal laws, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Isaac EDITOR Albert H. Fulcher (619) 961-1960 albert@sdcnn.om CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Azzoprardi Vic Gerami Michael Kimmel Lambda Archives Staff Neal Putnam Nicole Murray Ramirez Frank Sabatini Jr. CONTRIBUTOR www.canstockphoto.com WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA Albert Fulcher web@sdcnn.com COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich

Scoring Model (FICO). Upon his certification in consumer credit laws, FCRA and the Fair and Accurate Transaction Act, Miller successfully applied what he learned to fix his own credit and set out to help others. Since, he has assisted thousands of consumers to enforce their credit rights and dramatically improve their credit and quality of life.

What are some of the myths out there about credit?

One of the biggest myths about credit is that you have to pay the debt to collection companies and that you have to respond to their threatening letters and rude phone calls.

And that’s not necessarily true. Once your debt has been bought and sold to a collection agency, your debt is already paid for by the collection company. But if you don’t know how to utilize the federal laws to fight against collection companies they will ruin your credit and prevent you from living a life of financial freedom.

It’s not as easy as some people think to fight these collection companies. You can’t just download these bland letters from Google and mail them off and think that the credit bureaus will respond and delete most of these negative accounts because they won't. The bureaus are a lot smarter and they are aware of these simple letters that millions of people have already used millions of times. You may be lucky and get one or two deletions here SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Mike Rosensteel (619) 961-1958 mike@sdcnn.com MARKETING MANAGER Francisco Tamayo (619) 272-1279 SALES ASSISTANTS Erik Guerrero ACCOUNTING Priscilla Umel-Martinez (619) 961-1962 accounting@sdcnn.com

DISTRIBUTION Gay San Diego is distributed free every other Friday of the month. © 2019. All rights reserved.

PUBLISHER David Mannis (619) 961-1951 david@sdcnn.com

and there but not enough to get you 100% free from debt. You have to have something stronger and I have created something stronger that will get you 100% deletions in 90 days.

What made you in into credit repair?

I first got into credit repair while working at American Express because I was so amazed at how their customers mostly all had credit scores over 750 and well into the 800s.

At that time, my scores sucked.

I had a 580 with tons of collections and charge-off accounts. I was in debt over my head and I wanted the good life that they all seemed to have. So, I started studying how credit works.

I researched the federal law, the FCRA and the Fair Isaac Scoring Model, also known as your FICO score.

I became obsessed with getting out of debt the most cost-effective way I could. I found that the $40,000 of collections I had hanging over my head could be deleted from my credit report legally — and I wouldn't have to pay one single dollar to get out of debt. I could be free again. I could start over and begin to live my best life.

What are some of the biggest challenges people have with their credit histories and scores?

I would have to say some of the biggest challenges people have is student loans. Every day, over 100 credit files come across my desk, and on average, at least 90% of these credit files have student loan debt with late payments, collections and charge-offs. It’s sad and it breaks my heart to know that at around 18, the first debt that most consumers accumulate is student loans. Worse, most people who graduate from college don't ever get a job that pays them enough to pay for the debt they have just accumulated. So most people work the next 20 years struggling to try and pay it off. I think it's so important to address this problem first, student loan debt is the first debt I delete in a credit-cleaning strategy I call “the threeround burst.”

Is there a ‘typical’ credit-repair client, or do they come from all walks of life?

My clients are from all walks of life — and from all 50 states across America. I have cleaned NBA and NFL players’ credit. They have accumulated millions of dollars of debt. I've also cleaned business owners’ credit by successfully disputing and deleting bankruptcies

gay-sd.com from their credit reports. But I especially enjoy helping school teachers. Anyone who has a U.S. social security number and who has debt in collections, and/or charge-offs, late payments, etc. … can benefit from a strategically approached, ethically applied, legal credit-repair plan. Our company has been ranked by Google as one of the top five credit-repair firms in Houston, but we are a national firm. Regardless of whether you choose Alex Miller Credit Repair or another firm, I highly recommend talking to anyone you know who's benefited from good credit-repair service or get a recommendation from an accrediting organization.

Say I have bad credit, what makes you think you have the power to restore my credit?

According to the Federal Trade Commission and the FCRA, which gives me the power I have, I can successfully dispute and delete negative accounts such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, car repossessions, child support, collections, student loans, charge-offs, hospital bills and other types of debts in many circumstances. A stronger score will help you live your best life again or maybe for the first time.

What is the process of restoring one’s credit?

The first thing we require is for the person to get an accurate credit report. There are several services out there, but we have credit-monitoring sites that we find to be the best sources. Once that’s done, my team studies the client’s credit report; then we extract all of the negative inaccurate accounts, and we email them a free credit analysis. Then, we get on the phone with the client to review their analysis to hear their story, and then educate the client on their rights.

The law says we must let the clients know that they can do this themselves. You can also go to Lowes and buy bricks and build your own house. You can do it, but it may not be wise to build your own house if you are not a contractor. Similarly, with credit repair, you'll probably be better off if you allow me, one of my credit specialists or someone else with a lot of professional experience under their belt assist you. Just like having a professional roofer put your new roof on, you'll save a lot of money, heartache and a lot of your time by letting us do the heavy lifting, because this is our area of expertise.

OPINIONS/LETTERS: Gay San Diego encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email either to albert@sdcnn.com and include your phone number and address for verification.

We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy.

Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff.

SUBMISSIONS/NEWS TIPS Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to editor@sdcnn.com.

For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or email.

Copyright © 2019 San Diego Community News Network

How long will it take?

Timelines vary. I can only speak for our company. Our slogan is this: “What other credit-repair companies do in three years, we get done in about three months.” Our special technique is called “the threeround burst.” Each round is 40 days. We are going to do three master rounds of advanced deletions. You will get results every 40 days of the negative accounts that get deleted from your credit report. We have clients who have seen increases in their credit scores by 150 to 300 points in 90 days or less.

Do you have any tips for readers for safeguarding their credit?

Yes I do. I want people to know that identity theft is the No. 1 crime in America. And if they use our credit-cleaning services, we will assist them with placing a free fraud alert and security freeze on their credit report to help protect them from identity theft.

Can you share a success story?

People call in, send thankyou letters and send pictures of their new houses and cars all the time. Still, it's easy to lose track of how many small business loans we've helped clients get approved, how many startups and entrepreneurs our credit-cleaning services have helped launch.

But the story of a guy named Raymond is so near to my heart that I'll never forget it.

Raymond was a truck driver who was living in his truck by the time he reached out to us. He'd lost his job, his house, car and his family. This guy couldn't get approved for a pack of bubble gum because his credit was so shot. When my phone rang and I picked up the receiver, I could immediately hear the despair in Raymond's voice.

He didn't have enough money to afford my services. But after hearing his story, I created a payment plan that he could afford over time. This man was in debt over $300,000. He was so broke. My heart just ached for him. I used my own credit card to purchase his credit report for him because that’s how much I wanted to help him.

The foreclosed loan on the house he once owned was $350,000. Nevertheless, in fewer than three months, I was able to successfully wipe his credit clean by employing provisions of the Federal Trade Commission and the FCRA.

see Guest Editorial, pg 7

Business Improvement Association

Gay San Diego 444 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 102 San Diego, CA 92108 sdcnn.com Facebook.com/GaySD Twitter @GaySD Instagram @Gay_SD

National Advertising Representative RIVENDELL MEDIA (212) 242-6863

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COMMUNITY VOICES / OPINION

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

7

Imperial Court serves more than 550 children on Easter Conversations with Nicole Nicole Murray Ramirez

B

ecause of our caring and generous LGBT community, friends and allies, more than 550 children received an Easter basket and 15 won new bikes through a raffle. When grandmother Linda Childers and I first decided we wanted to hold a special Easter egg hunt at Trolley Barn Park in University Heights for children of LGBT parents and about 40 children showed up. But soon word got out and we immediately welcomed all children of all parents and this past Easter Sunday these children received Easter baskets, met two Easter Bunny’s, got popcorn, snow-cones, sodas, and more. The Imperial Court de San Diego has organized this annual event for the past 17 years with help from the entire LGBT community especially our LGBT Center, the wonderful leather community, the Gay Sports League, Assemblymember Todd Gloria, and Sen. Toni Atkins. For 47 years the Imperial Court has made outreach to children from the annual Toys for Kids Christmas Drive, Children's Egg Hunt, and adopted Florence Elementary School in Hillcrest for well over a decade now, with last year's

establishment of Emperor I Omar's Closet for children in need of school supplies, shoes, clothing, and more.

I want to make it very clear that we could not have accomplished these annual projects without the strong support of you, our LGBT community, friends, and allies, and especially our bars, businesses and organizations. Indeed it does "Take a Village" and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for always being there for these projects and supporting them. Also a special shout out goes to our LGBTQ media who always promote our benefits and projects: San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, Rage Monthly Magazine, San Diego Pix and Gay San Diego.

The 2019 Children's Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success especially because of the outstanding support of: Rich's, State Assemblymember Todd Gloria, State Senator Toni Atkins, Council member Chris Ward, Elaine Graybill, Big Mike, Noel Guanzon, Jeff Jackson, Flicks, Redwing, Paragon, Charles Rozanski of Denver, the San Diego American Flag Football, Milo Angel Jr., San Diego Pride, Jerry Coletti of San Francisco, Redwing Bar & Grill, Gossip Grill, Joe Letzkus, Sarah Critchlow, Moe Girton, Ryan Bedrosian, Robert Gleason, Carolina Ramos, Tom Hebrank, Stephen Whitburn, Anthony

Maserati, City Council President Georgette Gomez, Council member Jen Campbell, The Eagle, the leather community and title holders, insideOut, Toni Duran, Regina Styles, Mikie Lochner, Chris Olson, Empress Gigi Masters, Emperor Darnelle, Prince Royale Duncan, Princess Royale Rickie, and so many more. Truly, God bless you all for your kindness.

Subhead: GLBT VOTE endorsements Founded by the late John McCusker and me, GLBT VOTE is a committee of business people and GLBT activists who support candidates for office and have voter registration drives. GLBT VOTE is non-partisan and endorses both Democrats and Republicans.

GLBT VOTE 2020 has made these early endorsements: Council member Georgette Gomez for City Council, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott for City Attorney, Assemblymember Todd Gloria for mayor, Stephen Whitburn for City Council, Nora Vargas for County Supervisor, Lorena Gonzalez for California Secretary of State, Chris Ward and Brian Maienschein for California State Assembly, and for president: Republican primary: Bill Weld. Democrat primary: Pete Buttigieg.

—Nicole Murray Ramirez has been writing a column since 1973. He has been a Latino/ gay activist for almost half a

The Easter Bunny visits children at the Imperial Court de San Diego’s 17th annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at Trolley Barn Park on April 21. (Photos by Mikie Lochner and BigMike San Diego)

century and has advised and served the last seven mayors of San Diego. Named the “Honorary Mayor of Hillcrest” by a city proclamation, he has received many media awards including from the prestigious San Diego Press Club. Reach Nicole at Nicolemrsd1@gmail. com and follow him on Twitter @Nmrsd2.

Editor’s Note: The opinions written in this column are the author’s own and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff and/or publisher of Gay San Diego and/or its parent company, San Diego Community News Network (SDCNN). The newspaper and its staff should be held harmless of liability or damages.t

events @TheCenTer Thursday, May 2

13th Annual Dining Out for Life® San Diego

More than 550 children joined this year’s Easter egg hunt, receiving Easter baskets, and 15 won new bicycles.

FROM PAGE 6

GUEST EDITORIAL He called me and we both cried when he sent me pictures of his new five-bedroom house.

I believe in second chances; that's one of the basic promises of the American dream, which contrary to myth, is still alive and well.

How much should an average consumer pay for credit repair?

I can only speak for our company. We have three levels of service. They range in cost from $750 to $1,000-$1,500, depending on the complexity of the case.

Visit ftc.gov or alexmillercreditrepair.com for more information.

—Vic Gerami is journalist, media contributor and the editor and publisher of The Blunt Post. He spent six years at Frontiers Magazine, followed

by LA Weekly and Voice Media Group. His syndicated celebrity Q&A column, 10 Questions

with Vic, is a LA Press Club’s National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award finalist.

In 2009, he was featured in the Wall Street Journal as a ‘Leading Gay Activist’ for opposing Proposition 8 and his marriage equality advocacy.

Vic was on the planning committee of the historic Resist March in 2017 and is a founding board member of Equality Armenia. In 2015, he was noted in the landmark Supreme Court lawsuit, Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Court held in a 5–4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Vic is a contributor for Montrose Star, DC Life Magazine, Out & About Nashville, Q Virginia, GNI MAG, QNotes, Windy City Times, WeHo Times, GoWeHo, Los Angeles Blade, Asbarez, California Courier, Desert Daily Guide, Armenian Weekly, GED, The Pride LA, IN Magazine, OUT Traveler and The Advocate Magazine.t

M AY 2 , 2 0 1 9 thecentersd.org/DOFL

Visit thecentersd.org/DOFL for the full list of participating locations.

Don’t miss the 13th Annual Dining Out For Life® San Diego. Each year, Dining Out For Life® San Diego draws thousands of participants who dine out with family and friends for breakfast, lunch, dinner and/or drinks at the event’s participating locations.

Those locations – some of San Diego’s most generous restaurants, bars, coffee and ice cream shops – agree to donate 25 percent or more of their food and liquor sales from that day to support HIV services and prevention programs at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. Visit thecentersd.org/ DOFL for all things #DOFLSD.

Saturday, June 22

12th Annual Pachanga de Frida 6-10 pm, The Center

Friday, May 17

11th Annual harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast 7:30 am, hilton San Diego Bayfront

www.thecentersd.org The San Diego LGBT Community Center 3909 Centre Street • 619-692-2077

Twitter: @LGBTCenter

facebook.com/At.The.Center

8

COMMUNITY VOICES

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

gay-sd.com

The right way to die dying…

Or is she? She’s not doing it “right,” is she? Of course, this is crazy thinking and crazy-making. After all, what is the “right” way to die? Quickly hadn’t planned on writing a and glamorously? Die young column like this. However, I and leave everyone in shock at hadn’t planned on my sister how beautiful you are? Or is it dying a slow, drawn-out death to go downhill slowly, ever so either. slowly, like most of us probably A year ago, I was told that will. my little sister was not going But what happens when to live long. In some ways, this someone breaks the rules and wasn’t a surprise: she’d been does it “wrong?” Has a chronic on hospice care for a while bedisease for 40 years, appears fore that and we — her family to be ready to die, family — were told that her 40-year members fly in to say goodbye, struggle with multiple sclerosis permission to “let go” is given (MS) was almost over. (cue corny — but depressingly When you’ve watched someaccurate — movie scene) and one you love change from a then the person doesn’t die vibrant, healthy college student after all. In fact, they seem to to a 60-year-old woman who improve. Should we be happy? no longer can feed, walk or go Sad? Confused? to the bathroom by herself, the My sister told me, a year idea of death can seem like a ago, that she was ready to die. relief; at last she’ll be out of her Should I grieve for her that poor, old, suffering body. she’s still alive now? Or should Sounds good, right? Well, I be happy she didn’t die as she maybe not so good, but at least wished? relief feels somewhat logical.

I went to my therapist toAnd then they don’t die. For day with incredibly mixed weeks. Then months. And now, emotions (yes, therapists have a year later, I got a message therapists. How do you think that is awfully damned close we’re able to be so grounded to the message I got last year. and present for you during She’s going downhill and we your sessions?) I had all kinds don’t know how much longer of emotions floating around, she has to live. predominantly guilt. Yes, yours It’s even more confusing for truly felt major guilt that my me because of my three sibsister hadn’t yet died. I felt selflings. This is the sibling I’ve ish and self-centered. After all, always loved the most, been who of us can play God (or god the closest to and felt the most with a 1small “g”) and8:06 profess CMI_Half_Page_English_Bleed.pdf 2/5/19 PM to in common with. And, she’s know how long any of us should

Life Beyond Therapy Michael Kimmel

I

(www.canstockphoto.com)

live and just when, and under what circumstances, we should die?

I knew that last year she wanted to die. A family member summed it up quite nicely.

“It’s so confusing. I don’t know what to feel. Last year she was going to die and she wanted to die and we gave her our ‘permission’ to die and she said ‘OK’ and then she didn’t die.”

And, now, a year later, we are once again asked to prepare for her death.

What would you do? How would you handle it? Is there a “right” way to die? If so, how can you recognize it?

I talked to a few close

friends about this and was surprised that almost every one of them had experienced something similar with someone they loved. Obviously, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to die, there’s just the way it unfolds for each of us. As the Zen Buddhists say: There’s what is and there’s what you wish it was. Accepting death — however it happens — brings peace; wishing it were different creates much suffering.

After working with terminally ill children and their families at San Diego Hospice, I thought I had “seen it all” as far as death goes (so much for my humility).

I was wrong.

My sister’s impending death is hitting me hard. It’s sad and painful and confusing to watch someone you love as they slowly slip away from your life.

But, I’m learning … so much.

(Graphic by www.

CanStockPhoto.com) — Michael Kimmel is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in helping LGBT clients achieve their goals and deal with anxiety, depression, grief, sexually addictive behavior, coming out, relationship challenges and homophobia.

Contact him at 619-955-3311 or visit lifebeyondtherapy.com.t

Grab a coffee, take a survey, change the world.

Making a Difference is Easy.

Take the 13th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey

®

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Your information is confidential, used for research purposes only.

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It’s easy to look around and see a lot of change in how our society’s holding women and sort of the empowerment that women have felt since the presidential election of 2016. Because you feel that slipping back and you’re like, “No, no, no, no, we were moving forward,” so you see a lot of empowerment in #MeToo and just equality and equal pay and in the music business. The music business is funny.

FROM PAGE 5

INTERVIEW a lot of people alive who are affected by this and how deeply they are affected,” and so instead of writing a sad song about the victims I said, “What about these survivors and how can one give them hope?”

On ‘The Medicine Show,’ you say, ‘Come on down to mama’s farm,’ referencing your own marijuana business, called Etheridge Farms. What would I find on mama’s farm?

You would find medicine.

You would find an interest in a growing desire to bring plant medicine to the world, to have people understand health in a different way. And though we talk about — wooo! — getting stoned and people only talk about it in that little area, there is so much healing and understanding and consciousness-raising and awareness that plant medicine brings.

I’ve always told people we’re trying to go to outer space, but all the answers are in inner space.

How does marijuana enhance the songwriting experience for you? And did it on this album?

Yeah! This whole album is totally fueled by cannabis.

Oh goodness, yes. (Laughs) For one, it quiets the left side of my brain; the left side of our brain is in charge of keeping us alive, keeping us from stepping out in front of a car; it worries about the future, it regrets the past; it’s that voice (saying) “you’re no good.” Its job is to keep us alive, so it worries. And cannabis, scientifically, I can go into detail: Cannabis quiets that part of your mind and it allows the intuitive (to kick in), the right side, which is all in the now. In the infinite now. Which is really all there is. And that place is where I can open up to the thoughts and instincts and inspiration.

I mean, I’ve been writing songs for a long time and I’m the first one to understand that they come from nowhere.

(Laughs) I can’t explain to you how I got that idea. But that’s what it does. It quiets it.

INTERVIEW / NEWS

Melissa Etheridge’s “The Last Hello,” is about the survivors of the Parkland shooting, not the victims.

I guess I wonder if it really allows you to tap into something that you don’t think you could without quieting the left side of the brain first.

Well, I don’t think I have to be in the world of cannabis to do that. I think one can meditate and one can get to where plant medicine can get them but, again, why? (Laughs) You’re scoring the stage adaptation of the 1988 film ‘Mystic Pizza,’ starring Julia Roberts. Are you done writing it?

Oh no, I just started writing it. Once I said “yes” to doing it, they made a big press release. I was like, “Oh my god, I haven’t even started.”

What’s the connection between the story and what you bring to the table as a musical and lyrical artist?

What I liked about it is it’s a very strong woman story. I went back and I watched the movie, and I remember it making a big impression in the ’80s because it was three lead women and their stories, and it’s about immigrants and it’s about taking the Old World into America and keeping those secret ingredients. Then it’s about the freedom to go find your own dream. It’s a beautiful little story that I think has some beautiful moments, and it’s my first try at this.

As someone who’s won two Grammys and also performed during the telecast, was a change palpable this year for women and the LGBTQ community?

How so?

It’s run by 90% men, and so it was sort of the last place (to change). And the men in charge of the Grammys, they’ve been around for a long time (laughs) and we witnessed (Neil) Portnow’s, “Well, women need to step up” comment. I wanted to put on my album (and say), “Well, Neil, did I step up?”

But you feel a shift from even opinions like his?

So much. It’s an awareness.

It’s a, “Oh, we never thought about it that way,” and that’s what’s happening. I don’t think anyone did it nefariously. I don’t think they said, “We gotta keep the women down.”

They just didn’t think about it.

And that’s the problem right there: The myopic view of music, as just men making music.

I myself have even looked and gone, “Wow, I didn’t think it could be that way either.” It’s been a real change for the last two years. It’s been pretty amazing.

You and recent Grammy winner Brandi Carlile went back and forth on Twitter about how much you admire each other. She actually recorded background vocals for your 2004 song ‘Lucky,’ but you didn’t know each other at the time, right?

Yeah, no. Josh Freese was producing the track and brought her in. She was in Seattle, but then I ran into her at some music convention thing where she ran up to me backstage and said, “Oh my god, I’m such a huge fan.” I’ve been watching her career since then, and I love her music so much and I would love to do more with her and would love to be in more contact with her.

I’m just so proud of her.

When I think about your collaborations, one of the

most unexpected to me is your duet with Amy Grant on ‘You Can Sleep While I Drive’ in 2000. Growing up, it meant a great deal to me as an Amy fan. My gay world and my Christian world were colliding. At the time were you aware of the significance of a major Christian artist performing with a very out lesbian?

Absolutely! I met Amy in 1988 at a hotel in Amsterdam. We hung out and talked, and she’s just a sweetheart and a big friend.

I’d seen her around at things, and when she and Vince (Gill, who she married in 2000 after a divorce from Gary Chapman in 1999) got together, she got flack from the Christian community, and so she always had the belief that it’s un-Christian to hate someone for loving and did not stop for one moment from saying, yes, she would come and sing with me. I thought it was huge and I was very aware of what it meant.

Looking ahead, you’re headlining the WorldPride Closing Ceremony, which takes place June 30 in Times Square. What kind of message do you plan on bringing to the event?

I’m doing three songs and

FROM PAGE 5

COURTS to a psychiatric facility. If he's competent, criminal proceedings will resume.

The motive of the shooting isn't known but Parker posted a comment on Facebook that asked, “Who told all these gaffers it was safe to come outside ...?” on Jan. 3. He posted a rambling message on Facebook some hours before the shooting, and as of April 6, 406 people made comments on his page, mostly critical.

An employee of Asian Bistro posted on Parker's Facebook page and asked people to stop posting angry comments back and forth to some of Parker's family members and friends from Alabama, who also posted.

The restaurant is very close to the iconic Hillcrest sign and Parker earlier made some

MICHAEL KIMMEL Psychotherapist Author of "Life Beyond Therapy" in Gay San Diego 5100 Marlborough Drive San Diego CA 92116 (619)955-3311 www.LifeBeyondTherapy.com

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

9

I’m probably gonna stick to the big gay songs. (Laughs) I’ll have to look and see what the audience is like. At the moment I know I start the thing off that night, so maybe … I really don’t know. It just means a lot to be there.

It means a lot that there’s a thing called WorldPride. Just amazing being there, and I’m just gonna love being in the presence of my brothers and sisters.

Which LGBTQ artists give you hope for the future for LGBTQ inclusion in music?

I can’t tell you how excited I am about King Princess.

(Laughs) Ahh! Dig her! My daughter’s really into her, and so we’re listening and all of a sudden “Pussy Is God” comes on and I just said, “Well, I’m glad that 25 years ago I did what I did so that today a woman could release ‘Pussy Is God.’” It’s like, so my work here is done. Thank you.

—As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in GQ, Vanity Fair and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.t

critical comments about gay men, which other posters have repeated, causing new rounds of public comment on Parker's page.

San Diego Police arrested Parker minutes after the shooting. The shooter's trench coat and other clothes were found elsewhere along with an AR-15 rifle.

The restaurant opened about a week later after all the windows were replaced and the damages repaired.

Parker is also charged with shooting into an occupied building. If convicted of all charges, he faces a prison term of 154 years plus life sentences for pre-meditated attempted murder.

(Graphic by www.

CanStockPhoto.com) —Neal Putnam is a local freelance writer. Reach him at nealputnam@gmail.com.

DINING

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

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gay-sd.com

In with an urge, out with a smile Restaurant Review Frank Sabatini Jr.

T

he most recent LGBTowned bar and restaurant to have opened in Hillcrest just hit its first anniversary. In the successfully spirited year it has enjoyed, and with the local dining scene in a rapid state of flux, the occasion feels as though it arrived in a blink of an eye.

Until last week, I had only ducked into the imaginatively designed insideOUT for cocktails, failing each time to immerse myself in the Mediterranean-inspired dishes crafted by chef and co-owner Maryjo Testa. (When I’m out boozing, I rarely slow down to eat.)

Having cooked in kitchens throughout Europe over a 17-year span, Testa first impressed me with her culinary talents earlier this century when she owned Salad Style in Downtown San Diego. There, she not only raised the bar on salad-making but proved a sharp knack for bringing continuity to ingredients that many of us would never consider pairing: black currants and asparagus in her then-famous cous cous salad; and sunflower sprouts with carrots and quinoa in a miso-dressed vegan salad are among the memorable match-ups I recall.

I craved one of her salads again. And I was eager to try a handful of other dishes on her midday menu, available from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, which aligns directly with happy hour.

With a vegetarian friend in tow, we started off with the only salad on the daytime menu — a Caesar festooned harmoniously with fried artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes. Testa effectively retains the core essence of a Caesar with focaccia croutons and Parmesan cheese, yet by tossing in the former two ingredients, she spares it from tasting pedestrian.

Those same fried artichoke leaves show up in a shareable portion on the own. They’re dusted in truffle sea salt and Parmesan and served with bright lemon aioli for dipping.

It’s an appetizer tailor-made for beer and cocktails.

Like a handful of restaurants around San Diego County have begun doing, Testa recently added arancini to her menu.

The trendy fried rice balls, which actually became popular in 19th-century Sicily, are typically filled with mozzarella or minced meat, and served on a bed of marinara sauce.

Testa nails it by simply incorporating Parmesan and lemon zest into the orbs, which sported commendably crisp exteriors and creamy innards. We wished only for a little more of the spicy tomato sauce sitting beneath.

insideOUT 1642 University Ave. (Hillcrest) 619-888-8623, insideoutsd.com Weekday afternoon prices: Salads and cheese-charcuterie plates, $8 to $21 Sandwiches and shareable plates, $8 to $12 Daily dinner prices: salads and appetizers, $8 to $18, entrees, $23 to $32 For a few days leading up to our visit, we were hell-bent on ordering the papas bravas, those revered Spanish-style fried (or baked) potatoes draped typically in spicy tomato aioli.

Fingerling potatoes are ideally used here in what was a deconstructed presentation. The tenderly cooked, thinly sliced potatoes were served generously alongside a ramekin of very spicy “brava” sauce. It was backed up by a second sauce, the aforementioned lemon aioli.

According to the menu, however, it was supposed to be garlic aioli. No big deal. The two sauces jived to the potatoes both separately and when mixed together. Although I imagine that garlic condiment in the scheme would have been divine.

Just when I’ve had it up to my neck with avocado toast — nowadays available just yards away from wherever you’re sitting — along comes this construct using excellent multigrain bread from San Diego’s acclaimed Sadie Rose Baking Company.

Testa pretties up the toast

Chef and co-owner Maryjo Testa (Photos by Frank Sabatini Jr.) with a frisee of pickled red onions, grated cucumber, thinly sliced radishes and edible flowers. The bread slices were perfectly toasted and the layer of mashed avocado spread across them was discernible. All combined, the contrast of flavors and textures was poetic.

A top-selling peppered-steak sandwich, plus poke-soba salad, and cheese and charcuterie plates are the remaining choices on the daytime menu. The food coincides with attractive happy-hour drink bargains, which include wines by the glass for $5 and $6 and intriguing martinis for $8 apiece.

Located in the unmistakable cherry-red Eitol Towers, insideOUT is appropriately named;

when you walk inside and pass the spacious bar, you’re basically outside again, within a terraced courtyard where you can perch under the open sky with a cocktail in one hand and a fabulous nosh in the other.

Dinner service at insideOUT runs daily from 5 to 10 p.m. That menu includes dishes such as grilled octopus, Maple Leaf duck breast salad, chicken Milanese and paella-style fideo rosa.

—Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author of ‘Secret San Diego’ (ECW Press) and began his local writing career more than two decades ago as a staffer for the former San Diego Tribune.

You can reach him at fsabatini@san.rr.com.t

Arancini over tomato sauce Caesar salad

Avocado toast on multi-grain bread

Papas bravas with spicy sauce

DINING

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GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

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The deep-dish Margherita pizza at Cucina Sorella (Urban Kitchen Group) A bakery famous for its cupcakes is returning to Hillcrest. (Courtesy of Babycakes)

The beloved Babycakes is returning to Hillcrest via an outlet concept inside Fiji Yogurt at the HUB Hillcrest Market.

Babycakes co-owner Christopher Stavros told Gay San Diego the partnership will materialize “sometime in June” with a display case of Babycakes’ signature cupcakes and other treats such as brownies, cookies and their famous crème brulee cheesecake. The shared location will also serve as a pickup point for pre-ordered cakes.

Babycakes formerly operated for several years on nearby Fifth Avenue with a bar and The very intimate Soichi Sushi opened April 20 in University Heights, in the space previously occupied by Circa Restaurant. Owned by chef Soichi Kadoya and his wife, Raechel, the highly trained Kadoya worked at Sushi Tadokoro in Old Town and began cooking Japanese food since he was a teenager.

Soichi Sushi doesn’t serve sushi rolls. It instead specializes in traditional sashimi and “delicacy-type foods,” Raechel told us. Such items are listed on the menu, while others are served in two-hour omakasestyle sessions at a 10-seat bar.

For the latter, reservations are recommended.

Aside from the bar, there is an eight-seat community table, which can be reserved for

Taste foods inspired by books and authors at an upcoming event in Balboa Park. (Courtesy of San Diego Council on Literacy)

restaurant component attached to it. It left that location a year ago and moved to a space with a larger kitchen in Paradise Hills to focus more on its bakery concept. The company also has an outpost in Imperial Beach.

While the return of Babycakes to Uptown is all about the confections, Stavros added there could be other partnerships with local coffeehouses and businesses on the horizon.

“We’re just being creative for right now. And at some point, we hope to eventually have our own spot again in Hillcrest.”

1010 University Ave., 619-2964173, babycakessandiego.com.

In approaching its threeyear anniversary next month, Cucina Sorella in Kensington has rolled out an entirely new menu that includes the introduction of pizza — deep-dish to be exact.

Operated under the umbrella of Urban Kitchen Group, the company’s new executive chef, Tim Kolanko re-authored the menu in conjunction with sous chef Tara Mae. They came up with a slate of small and large plates that include carrot arancini, Sicilian-style meatballs, and hard-to-find chicken fra Diavolo.

The deep-dish pizzas are available in a few varieties, and the restaurant’s use of house-made pasta remains in place. 4055 Adams Ave., 619281-4014, cucinasorella.com.

Popular chef Giuseppe Ciuffa comes full circle with a new La Jolla restaurant.

(Courtesy of H2 Public Relations)

Assorted nigiri at a new, cozy spot in University Heights (Courtesy of Soichi Sushi) parties of five or more.

Raechel also noted that although the menu doesn’t list vegan or vegetarian options,

her husband caters well to nonmeat customers upon request.

2121 Adams Ave., 619-6772220, soichisushi.com.

The 10th annual Eat. Drink.Read. celebration will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., May 2, in Balboa Park’s Air & Space Museum. The event is presented by the San Diego Council on Literacy and brings together our city’s culinary and literature communities to generate funds in support of literacy programs throughout the region.

Participating chefs dole out samples of dishes inspired by their favorite books.

“The chefs love the event.

It gives them a chance to be creative and allows them to connect with their favorite authors,” said Jose Cruz, CEO of the council.

About 16 restaurants and culinary businesses are

sending their chefs to take part. Some of the foods to look for include apple-cured pork belly from Waypoint Public (based on “The Giving Tree”); chocolate flan from Casa Guadalajara (based on “Grandma’s Chocolate”); and an autism puzzle piece tostata from Galaxy Taco (based on “The Three Brotherteers”).

Admission is $75 per person, which includes free run of the museum and all you can eat and drink, including wine and specialty cocktails.

Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance through the website.

2001 Pan American Plaza, 619-574-1641, literacysandiego.org.

Renowned chef Giuseppe Ciuffa, who operated the former Sculpture Court Cafe in Balboa Park and currently owns Caroline’s Seaside Cafe on the campus of UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is making his encore in the heart of La Jolla Village with a new restaurant.

Candor is due to open sometime in May in the exact address where Ciuffa opened his first San Diego restaurant in the late ’90s, called Come On In Cafe. Also an accomplished caterer, the Italian-born chef promises an intimate space that will seat only 35 guests inside

and about 15 to 20 on the enclosed patio. Wooden floors and exposed whitewashed beams will impart a rustic feel.

As the restaurant’s name denotes, guests can expect “honest, straight-forward” cuisine such as fisherman’s stew, fresh pasta dishes, grilled pork, chicken a la plancha, and more.

And the weekend brunch will usher in a revival of Come On In Cafe’s favorites like lemon souffle pancakes and lobster BLTs. 1030 Torrey Pines Road, Suite B, dinecandor.com.

—Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at fsabatini@san.rr.com.t

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THEATER

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

12

gay-sd.com

Looking towards the stars A piece of aerospace history seldom told

Albert H. Fulcher | Editor

P

laywright Laurel Ollstien and Director Giovanna Sardelli’s West Coast premiere of “They Promised Her the Moon” is an exhilarating journey brought to vibrant life on stage that takes the audience over the moon and back.

Casting for all actors was outstanding, many doing multiple roles with each character standing on its own without wavering. With such a fine

repertoire of talent, this play is as prodigious as they come, and the revelations of history untold is a precious jewel for those who see it.

It revolves around American aviator and first female astronaut candidate Jerrie Cobb (Morgan Hallet), part of the Mercury 13 — an unofficial NASA program that subjected 13 women to the same physiological screening tests as their Mercury 7 male counterparts (including John Glenn and Alan Shepard.)

While in the “dog dip” for more than 10 hours hallucinating, Jerrie Cobb (Morgan Hallet, center) is visited by her mother (Lanna Joffrey, left) who always disparaged her passion for aviation.

‘They Promised Her the Moon’ Playing through May 12 The Old Globe Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre Tickets: 619-234-5623 theoldglobe.org Cobb ranked in the top 2% of all astronaut candidates for both genders.

Cobb underwent the “dog dip,” a test that simulates zero gravity in an 8-foot tank of warm water with no sounds, smells or stimulation of any kind. The objective? To find out how soon a person became dysfunctional and how they dealt with hallucinations. The top time, for the male Mercury 7 astronauts, was four hours.

Cobb remained in the tank for more than 10 hours.

This is where the majority of Cobb’s life is discovered through masterful storytelling in “They Promised Her the Moon.” Through her hallucinations, we see her story from early childhood, her passion to fly, her success as a pilot and everything she accomplished until training for Mercury 13.

This use of artistic direction was brilliant in the telling of her life. And hers is a story of determination, love, passion, betrayal, insecurity and self-confidence — everything needed to captivate an audience from beginning to end. Although the production’s male players confirmed the excellence of acting in multiple roles, the women illuminated the stage and shined a light on this part of history.

Hallett’s strong performance exuded the desire, obstacles, insecurities and drive that brought Cobb to life in this play. She burnished as she interacted with the characters. The father she loved, the mother she wanted to love her, the man that gave her a chance when nobody else would, those that put her

(l to r) Matthew Boston as Dr. Randy Lovelace, Morgan Hallett as Jerrie Cobb, and Mary Beth Fisher as Jackie Cochran in “They Promised Her the Moon,” running through May 12, 2019 at The Old Globe. (Photos by Jim Cox) through rigorous training, and those that betrayed her trust. From beginning to end, Hallett formidably commanded the stage.

Mary Beth Fisher played the infamous female aviator Jackie Cochran and was nothing short of stellar in portraying the first woman to fly a jet and break the sound barrier.

She decreed the arrogance, determination and fortitude of a woman making history in a man’s world. Her performance demanded admiration for Cochran, despite her self-centered intentions.

Jerrie’s mother, Helena Cobb (Lanna Joffrey), stayed in Jerrie’s head throughout the play demeaning her desire to work in a man’s world instead of being a proper Christian woman, wife, and mother.

Joffrey was superlative in her role, quickly becoming the woman you loved to hate.

Women traveling in space

The cast of “They Promised Her the Moon”

is common now, but the journey to get them the equal rights as astronauts is still something yet to be accomplished. Even as the United States vied with Russia to become the first nation to send a woman into space, the culture of America stood in the way. “They Promised Her the Moon” is a fascinating journey into the little-known history of that fight for equality and how an expert aviator, a world record-holding pilot, was never able to reach her dream of traveling into space.

The Old Globe delivered a spectacular interpretation of this moment of time and space in American history. And with Jerrie Cobb’s recent death at the age of 88 on April 18, there is no better time to tell her story.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

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GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

Mama’s Day 2019 – Mama’s Kitchen is prepping for its 28th annual Mama’s Day happening on Friday, May 10, at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. Mama’s Day, often touted as the original San Diego tasting event, is held the Friday evening before Mother’s Day and features more than 50 restaurants offering distinctive tastes to more than 600 attendees. From San Diego’s finest restaurants to our city’s top-of-the-line hotels and catering companies, Mama’s Day is a one-night-only event filled with fun, food and friends for all to enjoy. Proceeds from the event help to raise critical funds for Mama's Kitchen's mission to deliver three medically-tailored, nutritional meals a day, seven days a week and free of charge to local women, men and children vulnerable to hunger due to HIV, cancer or other critical illnesses. Tickets: $150 general admission. $250 VIP. More packages and opportunity drawing available. Hyatt Regency La Jolla, 3777 La Jolla Village Drive. 5:30-9:30 p.m. bit.ly/2DkBMLw

gay-sd.com graduate students through a competitive application and essay process and are awarded based on commitment to their chosen field, financial need and academic achievement.

Luminaries, such as Assembly member Todd Gloria, were past recipients of PFLAG SD scholarships. 3909 Centre St. bit.ly/2ZdAv20 QueerX Festival — Premiere queer global streaming network, Revry, is proud to present the fourth annual QueerX festival May 31-June 2 in West Hollywood. Formerly known as Out Web Fest, QueerX is the intersection of music, film and industry. QueerX announces its 2019 program lineup as well as the star-studded, opening-night concert headliners.

The festival features luminaries in the LGBTQ and media influencer communities with concerts, screenings, industry speaker panels, parties, the Powerhouse Industry Pitchfest and the Revry Visibility Awards. queerx.com

Friday, April 26

Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast – The Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast is designed to bring together more than 1,000 diverse San Diegans — business, labor, Democrats, Republicans, all communities, all ages, all San Diegans who support equality and justice — to celebrate the memory of this influential civil rights activist. The 2019 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast will be held on Friday, May 17, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Proceeds benefit the social services programs of the San Diego LGBT Community Center. 1 Park Blvd. Book a table here: bit.ly/2UCGheS

‘They Promised Her the Moon’ – The Old Globe’s West Coast premiere of Laurel Ollstein’s “They Promised Her the Moon” has been extended and will run through May 12. Developed in the Globe’s Powers New Voices Festival, it wowed festival audiences with the story of the powerful forces that kept one woman from reaching orbit. Directed

by Giovanna Sardelli (the Globe’s “The Whipping Man and “Somewhere”), “They Promised Her the Moon” runs at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Tickets start at $30. 1363 Old Globe Way. bit.ly/2vadOOl

PFLAG Scholarship Awards Luncheon 2019 – PFLAG San Diego County, in partnership with the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, is hosting Launching Leaders, a scholarship awards luncheon on Saturday, May 11, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. for this lunch reception at the LGBT Community Center.

Scholarships are awarded to LGBTQ high school seniors continuing higher education or full-time undergraduate and

‘Sister Act’ – San Diego Musical Theatre presents “Sister Act,” the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film that has audiences jumping to their feet! When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior.

Using her unique disco moves

and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood. Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, “Sister Act” will leave audiences breathless. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, “Sister Act” is reason to rejoice! San Diego Musical Theatre. Runs through May 26. $30-$70/ Horton Grand Theatre. 444 Fourth Ave. bit.ly/2GoB5BE Rock n’ Roll Rebellion Ball – Rock out in an exhilarating evening celebrating the ferocity and determination of the third-oldest LGBT theater in the country! This high-energy party will include decadent dining and sizzling auction items, featuring and an electrifying performance by The Lizards (Justin Huertas and Kiki deLohr of Diversionary’s acclaimed musical “Lizard Boy”)! Tickets: $175 individual, Honorary Committee and VIP tables available. US Grant Hotel. 326 Broadway. bit.ly/2KKNftP

Saturday, April 27

Adams Avenue Unplugged – The 2019 Adams Avenue Unplugged will feature 80 artists performing on 24 stages along Adams Avenue, from Kensington to University Heights. This year's Unplugged headliners are: multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, who has performed and recorded with some of the top musicians in popular music, including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, and Warren Zevon; and 2013 Latin Grammy Award-winner for Best New Artist singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno.

Both headliner concerts will be ticketed. Adams Avenue. Free. bit.ly/2UGUur9 California Regional Bearded Queen 2019 – California Bearded Queen Pageant with MC Glitz Glam.

Raffle, bachelor/bachelorette auction, entertainment and more. Portions of proceeds benefit the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. $10. 5-11 p.m.

MO’s Bar and Grill. 308 University Ave. bit.ly/2UpxnMM

Tuesday, April 30

An evening with Brian Selznick – Warwick’s and Diversionary Theater present New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” and “Wonderstruck” with his new book “Live Oak, with Moss.”

Walt Whitman wrote 12 poems in a small handmade book he entitled “Live Oak, with Moss.” The poems were intensely private reflections on his attraction and affection for other men, and Whitman’s most adventurous explorations of the theme of same-sex love.

This revolutionary, extraordinarily beautiful, and passionate cluster of poems was never published by Whitman during his lifetime and has remained unknown to the general public — until now. Brian Selznick has been greatly influenced by Whitman and has created more than 100 pages of original images that form a stirring visual narrative around the poems.

“Live Oak, with Moss” is a transporting tour de force that presents Whitman like never before and will be beloved by Selznick’s grown-up fans as well as poetry lovers everywhere. 6:15 p.m. $37.31; one general admission and one signed copy of “Live Oak, with Moss.” 4545 Park Blvd., #101.

Seating is first come, first served. bit.ly/2GmcA89

Thursday, May 2

Dining Out for Life – Dining Out for Life (DOFL) San Diego is set and organizers are working to ensure that diners have locations all over San Diego County to choose from when they dine out. More than 73 of San Diego’s most generous restaurants and bars throughout San Diego have agreed to donate 25% percent or more of their food and liquor sales on the day of the event to support HIV services and prevention programs at The San Diego LGBT Community Center.

This year, there are also 10 venues that are giving 50% or more to the event. Each year, Dining Out for Life draws thousands of participants to dine out with family and friends for breakfast, lunch,

ACROSS

1 Early AIDS play 5 Weathercock 9 Fairy tale start 13 Wise guy 14 Debussy contemporary Satie 15 Vague sense 16 His brother laid him in his grave 17 Garb for Troy Perry 18 The life of Riley 19 Xavier Bettel's country 22 Home state of Tallulah Bankhead 24 Make airtight 25 Rainbow shape 28 ___ Tin Tin 29 Starts 30 Opponent of Wade 31 Comic strip named for a vine 33 Online prostitution?

35 The Orlando shooting, for example

40 Go across 43 Online ‘zine 44 Two queens, e.g.

48 Terse oral refusal 49 Disney's “That ___ Cat!” 50 Rubik of cube fame 51 “Climb Ev'ry Mountain” peak 52 Ana Brnabic's country 54 Dam agcy.

55 Susan Feniger may pleasure it 57 Bear or bull 59 Gay leaders of three countries in this puzzle 62 Positions for Patty Sheehan 63 Emma Donoghue's country 64 Official records 65 Petrol station choice 66 Initiated phone sex 67 “Methinks thou ___ protest too much”

Saturday, May 4

San Diego Democrats for Equality – Join the San Diego Democrats for Equality for its Our Members Make History: A Celebration Lunch from 10 a.m.-noon. Much of the progressive change throughout San Diego County can be traced directly or indirectly through the work of our San Diego Democrats for Equality members. Let's celebrate the work our members have done to spur on that progressive change, as well as some of our recent leadership transitions and accomplishments.

Through the contributions of our Host Committee and brunch tickets, we've set a fundraising goal of $2,500 in support of our club's mission and goals. If you're unable to attend, please make a donation instead! $25-$150. At the home of Susan Guinn and Denice Feldhaus. Address provided upon registration. bit.ly/2PfKCij

Sunday, May 5

Stepping Out Ice Cream Social – Stepping Stone of San Diego has been up and running for a year now.

Thanks to the generosity of the board and the strong effort in the community to bring this service back, it created a location that is welcoming, comfortable and can accommodate its clients. The flexibility of its program allows it to address people from the community at all levels of their recovery efforts. Stepping Stone now covers the complete spectrum of care, from harm reduction to a high level of residential care for individuals with co-occurring diagnoses. To celebrate all our its accomplishments and to say thanks to the wonderful efforts of so many, Stepping Stone is having an ice cream social.

Please come by, build yourself a sundae and see for yourself how we have grown. Please RSVP on their Facebook page so they they how much ice cream to buy. 3829 Illinois St. 2-4 p.m. bit.ly/2PfRnkb Send calendar events to albert@sdcnn.com.t

QSyndicate.com

Q Q PUZZLE PUZZLE

GAY WORLD LEADERS

dinner and/or drinks at these DOFL participating establishments. Participants in this year’s DOFL: bit.ly/2ImVHNT

solution on page 13 DOWN 1 Khan's title 2 Where to put your meat, in a deli 3 Leo Varadkar's country 4 George Takei's role on “Star Trek” 5 Dancer Ben 6 They come from pansies 7 Tug on a fishing line 8 Barely make 9 Out partner 10 1953 Marilyn Monroe film 11 “Some of My Best Friends” network 12 Shrek's shoe size, perhaps 20 Lines through 21 Unexpected victory 22 Boat with a pair of bears 23 Lucy of “Charlie's Angels” 26 Rimbaud's king 27 Animation unit 32 Billy of “Titanic” 34 Be a hunter and pecker

36 Christ the ___ (Rio landmark) 37 Sharif of “Funny Girl” 38 Prep for a marathon, with “up” 39 Arsonist activity 40 Type of fruit juice 41 Shiny part of the Little Bear's tail 42 Brings to bear 45 Erte's style 46 Turns inside out 47 Guffaws about, as a Kate McKinnon skit 52 Sault ___ Marie 53 Caesar's arts 56 Schoolyard retort 58 Not much 60 “Got a Rainbow” lyricist Gershwin 61 Anais who went both ways

FILM

gay-sd.com

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

More than just a trick FilmOut San Diego celebrates 20th anniversary of “Trick” Albert H. Fulcher | Editor Trick or treat? Definitely both.

On April 17, a full house packed Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas for a one-night only showing of the 1999 very gay comedy romance “Trick,” written by Jason Schafer and directed by Jim Fall.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, FilmOut San Diego presented this film as part of this year’s lineup of programs, with Fall in the house for a Q&A after the film.

When “Trick” first debuted, it was a breath of fresh air for many of those that lived through the height of the AIDS epidemic. There were many gay-themed movies coming out during this time, but this was one of the first since the epidemic didn’t try and tackle all of the social issues of the times. Simply, it was funny, sexy and cutely romantic. At least for a one-night stand.

And that’s how the movie begins. Introverted and insecure, and a musical playwright in the making, Gabriel (Christian Campbell) meets Mark (John Paul Pitoc), a hot go-go dancer at a local gay bar and they spend misfortune and disruption in trying to find a place to get some action together. Also starring Tori Spelling as Katherine, Gabriel’s best friend, and Clinton Leupp as the amazing Miss Coco Peru, the night is filled with everything with the exception of Gabriel and Mark getting it on and getting off.

Instead, their night is filled with one obstacle after another and thwarted at every attempt to find time alone. This is just as much a belly laugh of a movie today as it was 20 years ago.

During the Q&A, director Jim Fall said that it took five years and $450,000 to bring the movie to the screen, and 21 days to film it (with actual film). He said the movie grossed more than $2 million, which was impressive for an independent film at that time

and has enjoyed a solid following ever since. Fall explained that in 1998, casting was difficult because no one wanted to play “gay” in the movies.

He said however, most of the people in the movie were gay, with the exception of the two lead characters.

Fall said in the original script, they finally get to screw in the bathroom scene and then it’s over. “I actually never wanted them to actually end up having sex,” Fall said.

“So that bathroom scene is a tease. So then I had them come outside and kiss in the sunlight. And if you look on the ground there is a purple stripe. It was actually gay pride morning and we just happened to be shooting that morning.”

With the movie being open-ended and left to the imagination of the future of Gabriel and Mark, Fall said there is a sequel written that takes place 20 years later.

So expect to hear more about “Trick 2” in the near future as it starts its Kickstarter campaign. Fall said that all of the original cast has agreed to make the sequel and you can expect a trailer from them as soon as the campaign begins.

As part of FilmOut San Diego’s ongoing film series, on May 15 it is bringing 20 LGBTQ shorts, never before seen in San Diego, to Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas, for a one-night, twotrack LGBTQ ShortFest. Most movies are making their first U.S. or California premieres with five films featuring San Diego filmmakers.

“Engaged,” directed by David Scala, who earned Outstanding Emerging Talent at FilmOut San Diego in 2013, is about a man who keeps trying — but failing — to propose to his boyfriend.

Turning the table around, “Gay Camp,” by Mark Marchillo, portrays a world where most of the world is gay and children that display heterosexual tendencies are sent to Camp Sahomo to convert them back to their natural

(Courtesy FilmOut San Diego)

homosexual lifestyle.

Jonathan Hammond, another San Diego filmmaker is presenting “Kathy,” a “true(ish)” story of a young boy and his mother who hold afternoon

exorcisms in the living room, with a new friend that is so “godly,” she may as well be wicked.

“Romance is Dead,” directed by Todd Jackson, is about

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a man who turns to his best friend to implement a crazy plan to get his fiancé back after being dumped.

“Pasos en la Noche,” (Steps in the Night) directed by Daniel Garcia and Maximiliano Garcia, is based in 1980s Tijuana where a closeted gay man enters a local cumbia competition in the hopes of dancing with the man he secretly desires.

Tract I starts at 7 p.m. with 10 films, and Tract II starts at 9 p.m. with 10 more. Q&A’s will be held at the end of each tract as time permits.

For more information about LGBTQ ShortFest, visit filmoutsandiego.com.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

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COMMUNITY

GAY SAN DIEGO April 26 - May 9, 2019

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Gay San Diego On April 29 San Diego Pride teamed up with the San Diego Padres for Out at the Park. One of San Diego Padres’ themed games, tickets included a Pride hat commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and $5 of each ticket sold went directly to San Diego Pride. More than 4,500 LGBTQ+ and allies attended the event raising more than $20,000 for the local LGBTQ community.t (Photos by Albert H. Fulcher)

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